The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith has served a summons and complaint on Mohammed T. Mehdi, executive director of the so-called “Arab Anti-Defamation League” (AADL) in an effort to have the group enjoined from using the phrase “Anti-Defamation League” as part of its name.
According to Arnold Forster, ADL’s general counsel, the complaint to the New York Supreme Court charges “that the Arab group seeks to exploit the name of ADL by using the phrase ‘Anti-Defamation League’ which is a key and distinctive identifying part of its name. If the Arab organization is permitted to use its present name, the good will of ADL will be diluted and destroyed.”
Samuel Gottlieb, a New York attorney, is acting as ADL’s special counsel in this case. Named as defendants in addition to the AADL are Mehdi and Ahmad Keljik, director of public relations for the Arab group. The Arab group has until March 30 to answer the complaint.
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